Alternative identities reduce violent behavior even when ideology persists.

Evidence

In line with their hypothesis, the authors found a direct negative link between alternative identities and violent extremist behaviors, such that terrorist detainees who had identities that trumped their jihadi identity were significantly less likely to support violent jihad, even if they were still committed to jihadi ideology. The adoption of alternative identities also mediated the negative effect of the detainees’ attitude toward the deradicalization program on their support for violent jihad. These findings suggest that even when convicted terrorists stick to their ideology, they may not resort to violence if they adopt alternative identities and goals. — Lea Echelmeyer, Anne-Marie Slotboom, and Frank Weerman, The Putative Effect of Identity on…, 226

Categorization

• XREF: Directly complicates the ideological-causation story; supports the identity-switch mechanism central to the reader’s negative-identity hypothesis. — connects to: Some identity needs reduce rather than increase violent extremism — Lea Echelmeyer, Anne-Marie Slotboom, and Frank Weerman, The Putative Effect of Identity on…, 253; Reducing hatred curbs intergroup violence without necessarily demobilizing collective action. — Johanna Ray Vollhardt and Michelle Sinayobye Twali, Emotion-Based Reconciliation Requires…, 67
• SEED: Evidence that deradicalization works along identity, not ideology, lines suggests an article angle comparing identity-based versus belief-change interventions.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Lea Echelmeyer, Anne-Marie Slotboom, and Frank Weerman, The Putative Effect of Identity on…, 226

Broader Connections

• Some identity needs reduce rather than increase violent extremism #corroborates (0.92) — Lea Echelmeyer, Anne-Marie Slotboom, and Frank Weerman, The Putative Effect of Identity on…, 253